You are responsible for minimally at least 3 posts for each question in your discussion boards; your initial post and reply to two of your classmates. Your initial post(s) should be your response to the questions posed in the discussion question. You should research your answer and cite at least one scholarly source when appropriate, and always use quality writing. The discussion board is never a place to use text language or emoticons. You will also be asked to respond to your classmates. This is designed to enhance the academic discussion around the topic. It is all right to disagree with something posted by another, however your responses should always be thoughtful and respectful and reflect your opinions professionally.
Discussion Question:
Read the article: Austin, S. (2011). Stay out of court with proper documentation. Nursing, 41(4), 24-30. – found in the Learning Materials/Readings • Of the four elements that must be proven to determine negligence, do you think that any of them is harder to prove than others? (be sure to explain your reasoning in detail) • Choose scenario 1, 2, or 3 in the article. Summarize the lesson to be learned, and what you would have done to avoid the error.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
As a medical professor, it is crucial to teach our students the importance of proper documentation and the consequences of negligence. This discussion question focuses on the article “Stay out of court with proper documentation” by Austin (2011), and aims to encourage students to think critically about the elements of negligence and how to avoid errors through case scenarios.
1. Of the four elements that must be proven to determine negligence, do you think that any of them is harder to prove than others? (be sure to explain your reasoning in detail)
The four elements that must be proven to determine negligence are duty, breach of duty, causation, and damages. Out of these elements, I believe that causation is the hardest to prove because it requires demonstrating that the defendant’s actions directly caused the plaintiff’s injuries or damages. Often, multiple factors can contribute to an adverse outcome or injury, making it challenging to establish the defendant’s actions as the sole cause.
For instance, in a medical malpractice case, a patient may file a lawsuit claiming that a doctor’s treatment caused their injury. However, it can be challenging to prove that the doctor’s actions were the only cause, especially if the patient has an underlying health condition or previous medical history. Thus, causation demands substantial evidence, including medical records, expert testimony, and thorough investigations.
2. Choose scenario 1, 2, or 3 in the article. Summarize the lesson to be learned, and what you would have done to avoid the error.
I choose scenario 2 from the article, which discusses the case of a nurse administering the wrong medication to a patient, leading to severe complications. The lesson to be learned from this scenario is the importance of verifying medication orders, following the six medication rights, and reporting errors promptly.
To avoid such errors, I would have practiced several strategies to ensure patient safety. Firstly, I would double-check the medication order with the prescribing physician to avoid misunderstandings or incomplete documentation. Secondly, I would have used barcode medication administration technology to ensure the medication matches the order and the patient.
Thirdly, I would have followed the six medication rights, which include the right patient, right medication, right dose, right route, right time, and right documentation. These are essential steps in ensuring safe medication administration and minimizing the risk of errors.
Lastly, I would have reported the error promptly to the healthcare team and documented the incident in the patient’s medical record, ensuring transparency and accountability. Reporting errors will help identify the cause and prevent future occurrences, improving patient safety and quality care.
